“There are no flash cards, so they don’t memorize the pictures,” said Karen Weidner about her program.

Weidner said she worked in preschools for many years and through an ad learned about the Academic Associates Reading Program.

“The program has been around since 1990,” Weidner said. “It was developed by Cliff Ponder, a principal in California.”

Ponder was an elementary teacher and principal for 20 years and taught every subject on every level before launching his program.

The program is successful at home because it makes kids and their parents comfortable, Weidner said.

“Parents can stay and watch while the child is in his or her session,” she said.

Weidner began teaching the program from her home about a month ago. She has set up a home office where she spends many hours instructing kids.

On Thursday, her client, 6-year-old Gianni Ice, reviewed his lesson of the day by pronouncing a couple of words. Each time he would complete a line of words, he would place an apple sticker by the designated line.

“I like it,” Gianni said.

Weidner said her goal is to ensure children do not become part of the statistic — 40 percent of grade school children read below grade level.

“We care about children.” Weidner said. “Our mission is to help struggling readers succeed in school and in life.”

Weidner said her program is not only for children, but also for adults, especially those whose first language is not English.

“Because it is a phonics-based program, it can help adults pronounce better,” she said.

Weidner and her husband have been residents of Ponder for about nine years.

Aaron White, a former Marine, is the franchisee of the new Mooyah. White also owns the Mooyah restaurants in Richardson and Allen, according to a news release.

White said he wanted to expand to Denton because of the community and because residents were already in love with Mooyah.

The first Mooyah, opened in town at the Denton Town Center, 2215 S. Loop 288, Suite 300, in late March. It is co-owned by Scott Isabelle.

The new Denton restaurant is located at 2530 W. University Drive, Suite 1100. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The new restaurant will include a special communal seating area and front counter, where guests can be a part of their made-to-order meals. Created with Denton college students in mind, the new restaurant will also have a soft seating area with lounge chairs and will include free wireless Internet, the news release said.

Located next door to Wal-Mart on Brinker Road, the Roomstore has been empty for quite a while now.

Since last year, the Richmond, Va.-based furniture company asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court permission to close all of its 10 Texas stores, including the one at 1701 Brinker Road, according to court documents.

The Denton store closed in mid-August, despite being one of two best-performing stores in Texas, said Chuck Green, president of Chuck Green & Associates, a commercial real estate company in Dallas.

Green said the 28,775-square-foot building could be used for retail locations likes a woman’s clothing store or a fitness center.

“We have received three [letters of intent] thus far, but the owner is looking for a strong national tenant or a regional tenant that is growing and will be an asset to the community,” Green said in an e-mail.

The Roomstore filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2011.

Consistent with its court documents, the 20-year-old company had its final going-out-of-business sales in late June in 20 stores throughout Maryland and Virginia, according to a news release that is available on its website.

In addition to Denton, the company closed stores earlier this year in Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Plano, Temple and Waco.

In response to readers’ requests, Labinal Inc., announced this week that production associate openings are posted with Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas, located at 1300 Teasley Lane in Denton.

Interested individuals can visit the workforce center in person to complete an application.

Professional positions are also posted to www.monster.com and www.workintexas.com.

The store will be having grand opening events Friday and Saturday, offering discounts and free samples of artisanal cheeses, meats, granolas and other specialty products.

From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, the business will also have a free screening of Small Farm Rising, a documentary about the expanding organic farming movement and how it can positively affect our communities to eat more locally.

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